Author Feature: David Wind, author of Tales of Nevaeh

David contacted me through a common friend. He knew my love of fantasy and science fiction, and wanted me to read his book, Born to Magic; the first book of his series, Tales of Nevaeh. I did, and was blown away. He is a master craftsman who writes the same combination of science fiction and fantasy that I do – how could I not? He then sent me the second book in the series for beta-reading. Once again, I loved it, and suggested I host him in my blog to discuss his work, not realizing it was his 37th book (!) Enjoy!

The Usual

Hi David, it’s great to have you here. What inspired you to write the Neveah series?

I have wanted to write these books for a long time, but wasn’t quite sure exactly where it would come from. Over the past few years, I have watched the way terrorism has increased, how prejudice and intolerance is again on the rise, and realized exactly what I wanted to write. Born to Magic takes place three thousand years in the future—a Dystopian combination of both Science Fiction and Fantasy—and is set in a non-technical world of hope while battling the darker forces that had destroyed what the world had once been in our time. This hopeful part of the world is called Nevaeh, where equality between men and women and all people is something basic, and not ruled by any laws. It is a magical place that is not just fighting to survive but fighting to thrive.

What was the first thing you ever wrote?

The very first thing I wrote was a horrendous noir style detective story. It was so bad it never made it past the trash can. I waited ten years before I tried again.

Lol – that’s a lot of time, but I’m glad you decided to try again. What other books have you published?

I’ve published 33 books traditionally and 4 independently. Born To Magic is my 37th novel. I’ve written in almost every genre including romance (NO, I will not tell you the name I wrote under – but it helped pay the bills).

Aw, come on! Oh well… Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I do a little stone sculpting, read, and enjoy my grandson who will be 3 in July.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I’m at the start of the third book of the Nevaeh series. The second book, The Dark Masters, will be out in May.

As a beta-reader, I’m excited for that; it was a great second serving of a great recipe. Who are your favorite authors and what do you love about them?

Wow, neither you nor your readers have enough hours for me to answer that. Suffice to say, there are a lot: here’s a sampling: H.G. Wells, Asimov, Norton, Burroughs, McCaffrey, Ludlum, King, Joyce, Nabakov, Huxley, Rand…… and on and on.

Some of my favorites in there, too. What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

My reading varies: Sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, literary works. I just finished a lovely novel titled, Every Five Minutes, by Bronswyn Elsmore, a New Zealand writer. Before that, it was The Killer Within, by Jeff Gunhus.

Are you an Indie author? If so, do you have any advice for other indie authors?

I am an Indie author now and have been since 2008. My advice is simple. As an independent author, you have double the work of a traditionally published author. It is on your shoulders to make sure your novels are properly presented and edited. You are the writer. You need an editor and you need cover artists. Do not take those things for granted.

That’s very true. Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

I hadn’t heard of Snowflake, but it’s similar to the approach I follow when writing. What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

That’s probably the easiest of all questions:
My wife of 30+ years, my three children and my grandson. In addition, the fact that I am alive and writing says it all!

I agree; that is a great achievement. How would you like to be remembered?

Kindly.

What is Nevaeh?

Welcome to Nevaeh: a world where technology no longer exists, but magic does.
Long ago, a mythical nation known as ‘America’ died in the violence and radiation of the terrorist wars. Now their descendants dwell in a world of ritual and magic where ten dominions struggle for supremacy while a dark power rises to threaten them all.

In Nevaeh, where men are blessed with great strength and women have both strength and psychic abilities, one woman has been chosen to be Nevaeh’s savior, Areenna—the only daughter of the King of Freemorn.

Barely eighteen, Areenna’s psychic abilities—her magic— are already stronger than that of most women. But when Areenna is called to The Island, a place where all women of psychic power must go, but from where only some return, she soon learns the fate of her world is in her hands.

Accompanied by Mikaal, the son of the High King of Nevaeh, the two undertake a perilous journey to a place of great power, in an effort to save Nevaeh from the oncoming darkness, and these dark and evil forces will do everything in their power to stop Areenna from reaching her destination.

Areenna’s journey is filled with unimaginable dangers as they cross through three of Nevaeh’s ten dominions, and through the haunted wastelands and badlands filled with the mutated survivors of the nuclear holocaust to fight their way to what will either claim both their lives or give them the powers to save their world.

David Wind in his own Words

When I began writing in 1979, I had no idea where I was headed. Since then, I’ve published thirty-six novels, thirty-two of them with traditional publishers, but in 2008, I decided I wanted more freedom than the traditional publishers would allow and began a new phase in my life as an Independent Author.

In 2008, I published Angels In Mourning, my ‘homage’ to the old time private detective books of the late 40’s, the 50’s and the 60’s. I used to love to sneak them from my parents’ night-tables and read them as a young boy. Angels, is a modern day take on the old style hardboiled detective. In April of that year, Angels In Mourning won the Amazon.com Book of the Month Reader’s Choice Award.

I live and write in a small village about thirty miles upstate of NYC, and share my house with my wife, Bonnie and our dog Alfie, an apricot poodle. Our three children have ventured out into the world on their own (or so they think). Our son Zach works on the CBS show 48 Hours. Our daughter Devon and her husband Russell live in New Jersey. Devon teaches Special Education in New Jersey. Alana, our youngest daughter is a Pastry Chef in San Francisco.

My latest novel, Born To Magic, Tales Of Nevaeh, Volume I, was released on February 15, 2015.

My last thriller, The Cured, was written with Terese Ramin, The idea for this Medical Legal Thriller came shortly after the death of a close friend. I couldn’t help but wonder about the medication….

My Fantasy, Queen Of Knights, reached #2 on the Amazon.Com bestseller lists for historical fantasy and medieval fantasy, and my sci-fi of parallel worlds, The Others, received wide acclaim.

My previous suspense thrillers are The Hyte Maneuver, (a Literary guild alternate selection); As peace Lay Dying, andConspiracy of Mirrors.And Down will Come Baby, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleepand Shadows, are mystery suspense novels.

The Dark Masters, Tales Of Nevaeh, Volume II is scheduled for release on May 15, 2015.

Thank you all, for your visits and comments. As a writer who usually spends more time alone than with people, this was a great treat. And thank you Nicholas, for your interview and more importantly, for the exceptional books you’ve written.

I’ve read David’s Born to Magic. I love it – really! The only problem with it is I have to wait for Book 2. Like the Star Wars movies, it’s hard to wait for the next episode!
I like to find out more about the author behind the book, and from this I find he is a stone sculptor. Wow, impressed, it’s something I’m planning to try!
Then – 3rd thrill in the reading – David’s charming enough to say he likes my novel Every Five Minutes. No we’re not related, and we haven’t met in person, but it’s great to know we’re mutual fans.
All the best for Born to Magic, David – may it sell a million.
And I’ll go to the movie when it comes out. Just make sure it’s not a year to wait between episodes!

Very nice interview. Wow, 37 novels. I’m in awe. I fear the mythical nation once known as America could very plausibly turn out the way you describe. Hope not. And yet it sounds like the struggle for supremacy means the new world hasn’t learned from the old world’s mistakes. Also plausible.

Lovely interview. One day, David, we’ll pull that romance pseudonym out of you! I remain in awe of your backlist – and you don’t have to worry about being remembered kindly. You’re thought of that way already 🙂

Fabulous interview, guys! It’s pretty amazing you’ve written so many novels, David. I must confess, I always feel sad when I hear a writer trashes a novel. Like Stephen King, I see them as ‘found’ things (he calls them fossils in the ground in his memoir). I’m personally too stubborn to throw anything away. I’d work at it till it shines. But so glad you did it only once, my friend. And sometime, you’ll have to stop torturing us and tell us your pen name for those romance novels! I’d love to seek them out and read one 🙂Effrosyni

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